A
hophead’s dream beer. This Imperial India Pale Ale has an opening
salvo of mango, peach and citrus hop aromas that sit atop a
pronounced caramel malt backbone. Although Dreadnaught is a strong
and intensely hoppy ale, its complex flavor is both smooth and
memorable. 9.5% ABV 99 IBUs.

Smell: Big wafts of fresh hop oil smack the nose around a bit; sweet
pine sap and some citric rind. Light fruitiness, faint esters and
some diacetyl in the aroma as well.

Taste & Mouthfeel: Light carbonation but real smooth and creamy with
a slickness in the mouth. A constant barrage of hops hits the palate
right from the get go and does not cut any slack. Sweetness does
come from an ample maltiness but more so from sweet hop oil that
borders and overwhelming pungent sensation. Higher alcohols are held
to a minimum but it is quite warming. Touches of bready grain and
buttery flavours, the hops just keep coming with a huge wall of
bitterness and piney citric flavour. Finishes slightly on the sweet
side but still puckering from the hops.

Drinkability & Notes: Very deceiving alcohol, hops are out of
control but done in a perfect way. An amazing brew that warmed me up
on this cold winters day.

History of 3 Floyds Brewing Company
Three Floyds Brewing was founded in 1996 by brothers Nick and Simon
with their father Mike Floyd. The original brewery was built by Nick
and Simon in a run down warehouse located in Hammond, Indiana. The
first beers brewed by the brothers were designed to be a departure
from the fairly bleak craft brewing scene in the region. Nick and
Simon brewed intense balanced beers that were and still remain “not
normal” by conventional standards.

The first brew house was an old 5 barrel (155 gallon) kettle fired
by a wok burner with old open Swiss cheese tanks as fermentation
vessels. This very small and eclectic system was utilized to produce
full flavored draught ales for the Chicago and Northwest Indiana
region.

With increasing support and demand for Three Floyds ales the brewery
slowly and methodically grew, eventually outgrowing the Hammond
location. In 2000 the whole operation was moved to Munster, Indiana
where it remains today. This new era for the brewery included a new
15 barrel (465 gallon) brewhouse and three 30 barrel bonifide closed
and temperature controlled fermentation tanks.

With new quality control measures, equipment and space to grow Three
Floyds looked toward bottled products. Due to limited resources the
first bottles of Alpha King Pale Ale were contract brewed and
bottled. This lasted until 2002 when a reconditioned Italian
bottling line at the Munster facility started to spit out beautiful
12 and 22 oz bottled Three Floyds beers in house.

Since 2000 the brewery has steadily grown. Many more fermentation
and conditioning vessels have been added and more and more beer has
been brewed. A brand new 35 barrel brewhouse has just come on line
and our new bottling line is up and running. This being said, Three
Floyds Brewing Company is still a very small brewery even by Micro
Brewery standards.

Although growing and being very well received among the craft beer
crowd, the limited production only enables Three Floyds to
distribute locally. But with steady growth and increasing support
more markets may open up.

In November of 2005, after receiving numerous visitors to the
brewery over the years, Three Floyds opened its own brewpub at the
production facility. What was once office space is now a refuge for
the craft beer enthusiast. With all the Three Floyds mainstays,
seasonal offerings, special small batch beers and many guest beers
it is a mecca for craft beer. The pub also has a full service
kitchen providing pub fare of the best quality supported by a 3000
square foot organic herb and vegetable garden.